The Toronto Blue Jays signed four-time All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension on April 7, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.
Guerrero’s contract begins in 2026 and includes no deferrals. The deal carries an average annual value of $35.7 million.
News: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a 14-year, $500 million contract extension that starts in 2026 and includes no deferrals. More details on a deal expected to make Vlad a Blue Jay for life, free and unlocked at ESPN: https://t.co/QMbaQeqtlT
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 7, 2025
It is the third-largest contract in Major League Baseball history, behind only Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets and Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Guerrero’s 2025 contract carries a luxury tax rate of 14.64 percent.
Before the extension, Toronto’s tax allocations sat at $267.8 million, fifth in MLB. Their active payroll was $213.6 million, fourth overall, leaving the club with a tax space deficit of $26.8 million and an estimated tax bill of $10 million to start the 2025 season.
El contrato de Vladimir Guerrero Jr. es el tercero más grande en la historia de las Grandes Ligas, solo por detrás de Shohei Ohtani y Juan Soto. #LightsUpLetsGo | #ElExtrabase⚾️ pic.twitter.com/EJB6QuddMH
— El Extrabase ⚾️ (@ElExtrabase) April 7, 2025
The players just behind Guerrero in total contract value include Mike Trout ($426.5 million, Angels), Mookie Betts ($366 million, Dodgers), Aaron Judge ($360 million, Yankees), Manny Machado ($350 million, Padres), Francisco Lindor ($341 million, Mets), Fernando Tatis Jr. ($340 million, Padres), Bryce Harper ($330 million, Phillies), Corey Seager ($325 million, Rangers), Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million, Dodgers), Giancarlo Stanton ($325 million, Marlins), Gerrit Cole ($324 million, Yankees), and Rafael Devers ($313.5 million, Red Sox).
Chicago-based reporter Mike Rodriguez, originally from the Dominican Republic, reported on April 4 that Guerrero was nearing a deal worth more than $500 million.
Breaking News: According to my sources, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Toronto Blue Jays are very close to closing an extension agreement of more than $500 million dollars. #BlueJays #Toronto #VladimirGuerreroJr pic.twitter.com/ELTHYXK5rh
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) April 4, 2025
The deal far exceeds the career earnings of Guerrero’s father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., who earned $129 million over 16 MLB seasons.
Now 26, the right-handed slugger from Montreal, Canada, has appeared in 10 games to start the 2025 season. He’s batting .256/.333/.333 with 10 hits, three doubles, four RBI, five walks, nine strikeouts, and a 0.3 WAR across 45 plate appearances.
In 2024, Guerrero posted a 6.2 WAR with a .323 average in his All-Star campaign. He played in 159 games with 697 plate appearances, collecting 199 hits, 44 doubles, one triple, 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 72 walks, 96 strikeouts, and a .940 OPS.
